the captain of the Lowestoffe been apprehensive that
some more of these privateering gentlemen might try to get hold of my
tenderly-loved galleon, he would probably have continued the chase and
captured the schooner herself, but remembering that a bird in the hand
is worth two in the bush, he wisely would not allow himself to be
tempted on, but returned to keep ward and watch over me.

"You said, sir, that there was many a slip between the cup and the lip,"
observed Martin, as on the morning of the 18th December, 1779, we
sighted the entrance to Port Royal Harbour, Jamaica, and with a fair
breeze stood into it with our rich prize, followed closely by our
faithful guardian the Lowestoffe.

"Yes, my boy, but we have not touched the rhino yet, and even then it
may be long before the sweets reach our mouth," was my answer. "So I
have always found it to be, and so I always expect to find it. These
bales of indigo which are said to be worth so much, are rather
cumbersome articles to put into our pockets and walk off with. The ship
has to cross the Atlantic and the cash has to pass through the hands of
merchants, and brokers, and prize-agents before we touch it."

I little thought at the time how necessary my warning was, and how well
it was not to reckon too much on the riches which might so easily take
to themselves wings and flee away. Still, as I have before said, I
could not help believing that I should some day or other possess the
portion which was my due; and over and over again I conjured up the
delightful picture when I should find myself once more in America, no
longer as an enemy to her sons, but as the affianced husband of Madeline
Carlyon and the friend and companion of her kindred and people.

In high spirits, therefore, and with no small amount of pride in my
heart, I sailed up the harbour and saluted Sir Peter Parker with
thirteen guns, which compliment he returned with eleven. After this
expenditure of gunpowder I hurried up to pay my respects to him, and was
received with all his usual kindness and urbanity. To my astonishment,
and somewhat, I own, to my disappointment, I found my own ship, the
Charon, at anchor among the rest of the fleet. I thought that she had
long ago sailed for England. On going on board I soon was made
acquainted with the cause of her return. On her passage through the
Gulf of Florida she had spoken HMS Salisbury, from which ship Captain
Luttrell gained the information tha